| TORRICELLI's Late Attack!!!
The 12th edition of the Giro di Lombardia was held on November 5, 1916. Europe remained in turmoil from WW1 battles, but Italy boldly held the race.
SPECIAL NOTE: this autumn race famously became known as the “Classica delle Foglie Morte” ("the Race of the Falling Leaves").
The race rolled off at 7:05 am in heavy rain. From the start no one wanted to attack in the pouring rain. The peloton remained together through the early kilometers. The harsh weather affected the entire race.
Race Status:
The slopes of Brinzio climb (51 km into the race / 232 km), whose ascent was covered by a messy mud, Gaetano Belloni (Isolati) attacked repeatedly with only Leopoldo Torricelli (Maino) holding his wheel. The two passed the summit in a relentless downpour with a gap of thirty seconds over Angelo Gremo (Bianchi) and Angelo Vay (Isolati). On the descent Gremo bridged the gap to the leaders.
On the second passage through Varese (94 km / 232 km), Vay chased a minute behind the leaders, while slightly further back Camillo Bertarelli (Ganna) and Alfredo Sivocci (Dei) constantly took time back.
On the Binago climb (107 km / 232 km), Belloni attacked again causing an extra effort from Gremo and he crashed. Absolutely exhausted, he did not remount and abandoned the race.
In Como (130 km / 232 km), Belloni and Torricelli gained a 3'00” lead on Bertarelli and Sivocci. The battle between the two leaders became aggressive on the climb of the Cappelletta where the duo passed the summit with a 4'00” margin over the two closest pursuers.
In Lecco (161 km / 232 km), the rain stopped and the excitement of the race increased.
In the lead, Belloni began to feel the fatigue of a tough race. He was forced to work hard to hold Torricelli’s wheel.
Torricelli, on the Cicognola climb (191 km / 232 km), launched a solo attack and dropped the struggling Belloni.
In Saronno (217 km / 232 km), a reckless and foolish fan on a bicycle entered the breakaway. He got too close to the two ANGRY leaders. Unexpectedly he swerved and hit Sivocci. He crashed heavily! Furious and in pain, Sivocci continued the race but with a broken pedal on his bike. Bertarelli and Belloni caught and passed the damaged Italian.
A determined Torricelli rode solo into the finish at Villa Torretta, exhausted but ecstatic. The Lombardia victory was his. The win would be the most important of his career!!!
Camillo Bertarelli (Ganna) and Gaetano Belloni (Isolati) rode across the finish lines, second and third, respectively.
After the finish race officials disqualified Belloni * for rules violations (not specified in the results) during the race. Alfredo Sivocci was awarded third place.
SPECIAL NOTE: Medical personnel assigned to the race were on standby amid the World War 1 conflicts.
GdL November 5, 1916 |
232 Km, Milan-Milan (Villa Torretta) |
1.
Leopoldo TORRICELLI (Ita) 8h41'35" |
2.
Camillo Bertarelli (Ita) +58" |
DQ’d x3. Gaetano Belloni (Ita) +58" * |
3.
Alfredo Sivocci (Ita) +5'22" |
Starters: 54 / Finishers: 12 Average Speed: 26.687 km/h |
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Lomb 1915
Lomb 1917
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